Cincinnati Bengals receivers coach Mike Sheppard could be a candidate for the team's offensive coordinator position because he has experience as a coordinator, reports Joe Reedy, of The Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Cincinnati Bengals announced they have hired Mike Sheppard as their wide receivers coach. Sheppard will be in his 14th season as an NFL coach in 2007, and has held offensive coordinator's posts at San Diego (1997-98), Buffalo (2001) and New Orleans (2005).

Josh Peter, of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, reports New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard would like to see no turnovers in the Thursday, Aug. 18, preseason game against the New England Patriots. Sheppard was disappointed to see the Saints' offense turn the ball over three times during the first half. "The percentages of you winning the game go up if you protect the football well," said Sheppard. "So we hope that we can protect the football and our defense can get it back and increase our chances of winning."

Chris Pika, of NewOrleansSaints.com, reports New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard will use the team's final minicamp this weekend to fine-tune the Saints' offense. "(The minicamp) is a chance to polish a little bit," said Sheppard. "We have about 95 percent (of the offensive installation) in and now, it's a chance to go back and hit some of the situations a second time." According to Sheppard, the workouts this weekend will be paced like an in-season daily practice.

NewOrleansSaints.com reports New Orleans Saints head coach Jim Haslett said the promotion of Mike Sheppard to offensive coordinator and Sheppard's offensive philosophy will have a big effect on the offensive unit. "The verbiage is cut down dramatically," he said. "The wording's different. The philosophy of what we are trying to do is totally different. We are trying to stay out of situations where it's second and long and third and long. I think the concepts on what we're trying to do; the philosophy is working out pretty well here," said Haslett. The head coach added the team seems to like all the changes.